Woodford County High School has seven Years (7–13) . To gain a place in the lower school, children take the 11-plus exam via the local authority, the London Borough of Redbridge. Redbridge offers the top 180 girls in the 11-plus exam results places. The school offers a range of GCSE subjects, including Classical Civilisation.[2]
Although the school is part of the Borough of Redbridge school system, the school buildings themselves are located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.[3]
History
The main school building was originally Highams Manor or Highams Park, and was built in 1768 by William Newton (1735–1790). The exterior has Ionic orderpilasters and a polygonal roof lantern. Notable internal features include a stone staircase with a wrought-iron balustrade. The grounds were designed by Humphry Repton and originally included Highams Park Lake.[4] In 1849, the house was acquired by the Warner family, who also held ownership of many properties in Walthamstow.[5] The building was later used a hospital, in which Florence Nightingale worked,[6] as well as a means of accommodation for Winston Churchill during the Second World War.[7] The site became Woodford County High school for Girls in 1919 and was extended to the north and south between 1928 and 1938.[5] It became a Grade II listed building in 1951.[4]